May 12, 2020

Pemco

Seattle-based Pemco Mutual Insurance created an enterprise systems and IT program management organization that brings together teams from its corporate business systems and digital services departments. It hired Karla North to direct the new organization. North was senior director of IT and technology operations at Seattle-based Vulcan, where she worked for 21 years.

State of Washington

The state Department of Health honored eight entities that are dedicated to owning or operating a water system or training those who do. The announcement was made last week during National Drinking Water Week. Lifetime Achievement awards were given to: Dan Kegley, director of water and hydroelectric services at the city of Spokane; Mary Howell, COO of Backflow Management; Chuck Clarke, retired CEO of Cascade Water Alliance in Woodinville; and Bob Hunter, general manager of Kitsap Public Utility District in Poulsbo. Other winners were: Jon Ness, environmental health director of Northeast Tri-County Health District in Colville (Friend of Drinking Water); Dave Muto, operations planning and system control manager at Seattle Public Utilities (Operator of the Year); Jim Patton, president of the Whidbey Island Water System Association in Coupeville (Commitment to Excellence); and Windolph Water Association in Olympia (Perseverance Under Adversity).

City of Tacoma

The Tacoma City Council needs to fill one position on the five-member Public Utility Board, which is the governing body for Tacoma Public Utilities. Applications are due May 26 and interviews will be conducted at a to-be-determined date. Details are at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or through Jessica Jenkins at servetacoma@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5167.

Hillsboro School District

In Oregon, Hillsboro School District is partnering with Comcast Oregon/Southwest Washington to provide six months of free internet access for up to 650 Hillsboro families in need of connectivity. The move is an effort to ensure students can access distance learning options under stay-at-home orders. Qualifying low-income families can apply before June 30.

May 08, 2020

Symetra

Balkovetz

Monti

Severin

Bellevue-based Symetra Life Insurance Co. promoted Wes Severin, Harry Monti and Chantel Balkovetz to executive vice presidents. Severin now leads the Retirement Division. He was senior vice president of retirement product and distribution, and has been with Symetra since 2011. Monti now leads the Benefits Division. He was senior vice president of life and disability, and joined the company in 2014. Balkovetz now leads customer and service operations for all three Symetra divisions: Retirement, Benefits and Individual Life. She joined the company in 2008 as director of retirement service and operations, and was promoted in 2017 to senior vice president.

Bordeaux Wealth Advisors

Ragan

Menlo Park, California-based Bordeaux Wealth Advisors hired Jave Ragan in its new Bellevue office. Ragan has more than two decades of wealth management and business succession planning experience, and is a CPA. Most recently, he was senior wealth planning strategist at Wells Fargo Private Bank. About 30% of Bordeaux's clients are located in the Seattle area.

Tethers Unlimited

Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Amergint Technologies acquired Bothell-based Tethers Unlimited, which outfits small satellites with programmable radios, propulsion modules and systems for in-space manufacturing of spacecraft components. Amergint provides mission-critical communication and data paths for spacecraft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Emerald Communities

Redmond-based Emerald Communities donated $120,000 to EvergreenHealth Foundation to buy four ventilators. The foundation is a nonprofit supporting EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland. The ventilators were installed in the medical center's intensive care unit. EvergreenHealth is one of the main hospitals used by residents of Emerald Heights, a senior housing development in Redmond run by Emerald Communities.

T-Mobile

Bellevue-based T-Mobile is upping its support in the coronavirus fight by donating 500,000 medical face masks to the CDC Foundation and up to $100,000 for child care to frontline worker families through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's COVID-19 Relief Fund.